<div dir="ltr">Apologies for coming in late on this. Here's my take: <div><br><div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:12.8px;font-family:georgia,serif"><b><span style="color:rgb(255,0,0)">(a) Should the spreading of Fake News be a crime? How about when Fake News leads to incitement? </span></b></div>There's a lot to consider here before declaring fake news to be a crime. The question should be <b>cui bono</b>, who stands to gain the most? Fake news that seeks to manipulate consumer behaviour should be criminal, as should be fake news that spreads panic or disrupts the public order. The fact that much of it comes from shadowy sources that are hard to trace makes prosecution difficult. One can register a dodgy domain that looks legit, something like <a href="http://k24-news.com">k24-news.com</a> (which is an actual site that attempts to imitate MediaMax's K24) and use it to share questionable content. It's hard to trace, and its endgame is equally hard to identify. Going after the people behind these sites will be difficult, and could potentially lead to wastage of public resources. A better way to do this, in my opinion, would be flagging such fake news sites so that the authorities can see it and institute measures such as takedowns and domain seizures. </div><div><br><div class="gmail_default" style=""><b style="font-family:georgia,serif;font-size:12.8px"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,255)">(b) The NCIC (National Cohesion and Integration Commission) and the CA (Communications Authority); do these agencies have the sufficient mandate to combat Fake News?</span><br></b>Both agencies have not taken sufficient measures in this situation. I have some understanding of their mandates, but all I have seen from them is public warnings and a few token prosecutions. I am yet to see any action that would deter someone looking to cause harm using fake news from doing so. While I appreciate the things that Hon. ole Kaparo and Mr Wangusi have said in public, I think more needs to be done by both agencies to enable members of the public report questionable content online. <b style="font-family:georgia,serif;font-size:12.8px"><br></b></div><div class="gmail_default" style=""><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:12.8px;font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="color:rgb(255,0,255)"><b>(c) Is it time we reguated social media use? How? </b></span></div></div></div>This is a slippery slope. Regulating social media means that the Government would be involving itself in something that is very personal in nature. It has much potential for abuse, and I don't see any potential benefits here. Policing the social media space has the potential to backfire, as it is a violation of the constitutionally protected freedom of speech. There are other means to protect individuals that, if exercised correctly, should be sufficient, such as reporting individual posts that pose a demonstrable risk to public safety, at which point the authorities can act. </div><div class="gmail_extra"><br clear="all"><div><div class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr">
<a href="http://about.me/mugendi" style="text-decoration:none" target="_blank">
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
<tbody><tr><td style="height:30px;font-size:0px"> </td></tr>
<tr>
<td style="line-height:1;padding:0px;vertical-align:top" align="left" valign="top">
<div style="margin:0;font-size:18px;line-height:1;font-weight:bold;color:#333333;font-family:proxima-nova-1,Proxima-Nova,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-Serif">Eric Mugendi</div>
<div style="margin:0;margin-top:3px;font-size:12px;color:#2b82ad;font-family:proxima-nova-1,Proxima-Nova,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-Serif">about.me/mugendi</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="line-height:1;vertical-align:top;padding-top:8px" align="left" valign="top">
<div style="text-align:right;background-color:#c5d0e0;height:4px"><img src="http://d13pix9kaak6wt.cloudfront.net/signature/colorbar.png" alt="Eric Mugendi on about.me" style="float:right;border:0;margin:0;padding:0;display:block" height="4" width="88"></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr><td style="height:20px;font-size:0px"> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</a>
</div></div></div>
<br><div class="gmail_quote">On 19 August 2017 at 14:01, kanini mutemi via kictanet <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke" target="_blank">kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_default"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12pt;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><font color="#000000" face="Georgia, serif"><span style="font-size:12.6667px">Dear Listers, </span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12pt;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><font color="#000000" face="Georgia, serif"><span style="font-size:12.6667px">Here is a summary of Day 3:</span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia,serif;margin-bottom:12pt;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><b><span style="font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Georgia,serif;color:red">On (a): Should the spreading of Fake News
be a crime? How about when Fake News leads to incitement? <span></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia,serif;margin-bottom:12pt;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Georgia,serif">Once again, the issue of culpability of State and
political players came up. We look forward to NCICs reaction to this. <span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia,serif;margin-bottom:12pt;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Georgia,serif">As for individual criminal liability, a better
approach would be to distinguish between those who generate Fake News and those
who spread it; generation should attract more stringent penalties. Proper
implementation of the existing laws on hate speech would satisfactorily address
incitement through Fake News. <span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia,serif;margin-bottom:12pt;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Georgia,serif">We considered Clause 12 of the Computer and
Cybercrimes Bill, 2017 which criminalizes the publication of false data. It was
pointed out that implementing such a provision would be difficult since most
Fake News accounts are created using fake identities. A possible solution would
be to require real name social media accounts. <span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia,serif;margin-bottom:12pt;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><b><span style="font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Georgia,serif;color:blue">On (b) The NCIC (National Cohesion and
Integration Commission) and the CA (Communications Authority); do these
agencies have the sufficient mandate to combat Fake News?<span></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia,serif;margin-bottom:12pt;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Georgia,serif">These agencies do have the mandate. It was emphasized that
implementation of existing laws needs to be stepped up as opposed to further
legislation. NCIC was called upon to be impartial in executing its mandate. <span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia,serif;margin-bottom:0.0001pt;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><b><span style="font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Georgia,serif;color:fuchsia">On (c) Is it time we regulated social
media use? How? </span></b><span style="font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Georgia,serif"><span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:9.5pt;line-height:107%;font-family:Georgia,serif">It was felt that there is enough
regulation as it is. Existing legislation should be complemented with educating the public on online responsibility. The current curriculum review
process presents a good opportunity to introduce media and information literacy
in schools. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:9.5pt;line-height:107%;font-family:Georgia,serif"><br></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:9.5pt;line-height:107%;font-family:Georgia,serif">As well, we must be careful not to infringe on the freedom of
expression even as we look for suitable regulatory solutions. <span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:9.5pt;line-height:107%;font-family:Georgia,serif"><br></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:9.5pt;line-height:107%;font-family:Georgia,serif">The issue of content takedowns also came up. KENIC was challenged to come up with a content policy (or create
awareness if there is already one). This
is a complex area that needs further discussion. <span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:9.5pt;line-height:107%;font-family:Georgia,serif"><br></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:9.5pt;line-height:107%;font-family:Georgia,serif"><br></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:9.5pt;line-height:107%;font-family:Georgia,serif">A big thank you to NCIC for initiating this conversation. We eagerly await NCICs response to the issues raised. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:9.5pt;line-height:107%;font-family:Georgia,serif"><br></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:9.5pt;line-height:107%;font-family:Georgia,serif">It has been a
pleasure moderating this discussion. Asanteni sana! </span></p></div><span class="HOEnZb"><font color="#888888"><div class="gmail_extra">-- <br><div class="m_7346725643397311480gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><b>Mercy Mutemi</b>. <br></span></div></div><div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><b><i><br></i></b></span></div><br></div></div></div></div></div></div>
</div></font></span></div>
<br>______________________________<wbr>_________________<br>
kictanet mailing list<br>
<a href="mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke">kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke</a><br>
<a href="https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/<wbr>mailman/listinfo/kictanet</a><br>
Twitter: <a href="http://twitter.com/kictanet" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">http://twitter.com/kictanet</a><br>
Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/KICTANet/" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/<wbr>KICTANet/</a><br>
<br>
Unsubscribe or change your options at <a href="https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/emugendi%40gmail.com" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/<wbr>mailman/options/kictanet/<wbr>emugendi%40gmail.com</a><br>
<br>
The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.<br>
<br>
KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.<br>
<br></blockquote></div><br></div>